Soaking-drum cleaner



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Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,722,188 PATENT oFFics.

GEORGE 'W. WHE AT, OF CEDAR GROVE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OIL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SOAKING-DBUM CLEANER.

Application filed November 16, 1927. Serial No. 233,570.

This invent-ion relates to tools for the removal of coky material'- from soaking drums employed in the pyrolysis of petroleum oils.

The drums referred to are ordinarily vertical and at the expiration of a run have an accumulated deposit of hard coky material. This is ordinarily removed by first drilling a hole up through the material using a head carrying a fish tail bit and thereafter intro- 0 ducing into the drum a shaftwhich carr es cutting arms and is rotated and gradually moved upwardly to cut away the deposit. My invention comprehends a form of apparatus which is more effective in operation and by which whipping of the tool and vibration ofthe soaking drum is materially reduced. The invention be understood from the following description in conjunction with the annexed drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical plan of a heater head,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal plan of same, Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are vertical plans of cutting arms to be employed in combination with said heater head.

Fig. 6 is an end view of either one of Figs. .3, 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a top view of cutting bit carried by said beater head.

and

Fig. 9 is a side view of the complete tool as assembled.

Referring specifically to Fig. 1, the beater head 1 carries projection 2 having a threaded portion 3, by which it engages with the drill stem 4, whereby it may be projected into and rotated in the drum from'which the material is to be removed. This beater head 40 carries a number of radially disposed vertical slots 5. The slots are provided with transverse shafts or pins 6. v The cutting arms 7, 8 and 9 are each provided with a hole at one end whereby they may be retained in the slots 5 by the removable pins 6 and are so shaped with reference -to said slots that'they may be moved piv-.

otally through a vertical angle of substantially 90 from horizontal to vertical position for convenient introduction into the drum to be cleaned through the usual manhole cover. These cutting arms carry teeth 10 at the upper and 11 at the lower surface. The teeth are staggered with respect to their radial Fig. 8 is a side view of said cutting bit distance from the axis of-rotation, so that each tooth makes an independent cut in the material to be removed.

Referring specifically to Figs. 7 and 8,

the bit 12 is composed of a number of vertical rectangular plates, 13, radially arranged with reference to the axis of rotation. These plates are beveled at the upper end to present a cutting edge in the direction of rotation. At the outer vertical edge and integral therewith are vertical cutting blades 14 which also present a cutting edge in the direction of rotation. The outer surface of the cutting blades 14, conforms substantially to the circumference of the bit and of the hole drilled by the same. In operation this part functions both as a cutter and a guide whereby wobbling or vibrationis prevented and the tool as a whole is made to advance substantially in the direction of the initial cut. This cutting bit is to be combined with the beater head referred to as shown in Figs.

7 and 8 and made integral therewith. It

will of course be understood that all cutting parts are to be made of material of high tensile strength and resistance to abrasion.

Fig. 9 shows the complete tool as assembled. The method of operation is as follows:

The removable pins 6 are withdrawn and the cutting arms 7, 8 and 9 are removed. The beater head and bit carried thereby, mounted on thedrill-stem is'then rotated and projected up through the coky material to drill a hole which may either partially or completely pierce the same. The drill-stem and attached tool are then lowered and withdrawn from the soaking drum and the cutting arms 7, 8 and 9, and removable pins 6 are replaced. The arms 7, 8 and 9 are then folded to a substantially vertical position and the complete tool is then elevated, by raising the drillstem to a point within the hole previously drilled. The drill-stem is then rotated and the arms 7, 8 and 9 are thrown outward by centrifugal force and cut by means of the teeth 11 until the arms have reached a. horizontal position. Thereafterthe rotation of the drill-stem and tool is continued and the tool is elevated or lowered as desired until the coky material has. been removed within the radius of action of the cutting arms.

It will of course be understood that the forms specifically shown are in illustration and not in limitation and that alternative forms may be adopted within the scope of the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim broadly all novelty inherent in the invention.

I claim:

1. A tool for the removal of coky materials from soaking drums, consisting of a beater head having a threaded portion for engagement with a drill stem, a number of radially disposed cutting arms attached to said beater head and a cutting bit surmounting said heater head and consisting of vertical radially disposed rectangular cutting plates, presenting cutting edges in the direction of rotation.

2. A tool for the removal of coky materials fromsoaking drums consisting of a heater head having a threaded portion for en agement with a drill stem, a number of radially disposed cutting arms pivotally attached thereto and adapted to be elevated through a vertical angle of 90 from horizontal to verti-, cal and a bit surmounting said beater head and consisting of vertical radially. disposed rectangular cutting plates presenting cutting edges in the direction of rotation.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the cutting arms carry cutting teeth on both the upper and lower surfaces of the same in a horizontally extended position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the cutting arms carry cutting teeth on both the upper and lower surfaces of the same in a horizontally extended position and said teeth are staggered with respect to their radial distance from the center whereby each tooth is adapted to make an independent cut.

'5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the cutting plates carry at their outer vertical edges circumferentially disposed cutting blades.

6.. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the cutting plates carry at their outer vertical edges circumferentially disposed cutting plates and the outer surfaces of said cutting plates conform substantially to the circumference of the bit.

GEORGE W. WHEAT. 

